Knockdown sectional bookcase.



PATBNTED FEB. 7, 1905.

J. HOULT.

KNOGKDOWN SECTIONAL BOOKGASE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 2, 1904.

llllglllllllllill Patented February 7, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JHN HOULT, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

KNOCKDOWNV SECTIONAL BOOKCASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,135, dated February 7', 1905.

Application filed May 2,1904. Serial No. 205,878.

gill) .ft/l who/)t it Y11m/ 1j concern:

Be it known that I, J om. HoULT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan. have invented certain new and useful .Improvements in Knockdown Sectional Bookcases; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use [he same.

My invention relates to improvements in knockdown sectional bookcases; and its object is to provide a case in which each section maybe readily taken apart as occasion requires and at the same the respective sections can be separated without removing' the contents thereof, to simplify and cheapen the construction, and to provide the device with various new and useful features hereinafter more fully described, and particularlyv pointed out in the claims.

My device consists, essentially, of the combination and arrangement of coupling-plates between the ends of the sections and provided with inwardlyprojecting' supports for the door and separate coupling' irons for the shelves, each shelf being' located at a distance above the coupling-plates, back panels enf gaging grooves in the ends of the sections and in the upper and under sides of the shelves and also extending partiallyv within two adja cent sections, and in various novel features, as will more fully appear by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective of a knockdown sectional bookcase embodying' my invention; Fig. 2, an enlarged vertical section of the same; Fig. 3, a further enlarged detail` in vertical section, showing the means for attaching' and `fastening the various parts and supporting the doors on the coupling-plates; Fig'. s, a detail of the shelf-irons, and Fig. 5 a detail of the coupling-plates.

Like numerals refer to like parts in all of the figures.

l, L), and 3 represent the end members of a series of superposed book-sections.

s reprel removing the contents thereof.

j said section.

sents the end members of a top section, and 5 the end members of a bottom section. The adjacent ends of these respective members of the various sections are suitably grooved` as shown in Fig. 3, to receive oppositely-extemled tongues or ribs 6" on coupling-plates (i, interposed between the various end members. AEach coupling-plate projects inward a suitable distance, as at li", to form a support for the door T and is provided with a suitable slot 6, traversed by the hook 11 on the door. This support is thicker than the plate, and thus engages the inner surface of the ends of the sections and aids the flanges (5" in holding the same in place. The front end of each support is rounded opposite the slot, as at 6, to form a pivot for the hook ll when the door is drawn out and turned down. 'lhe shelves S are each provided at their respective ends with irons T shape in cross-section, as shown in Figs. 3 and a, which irons are inserted in suitable grooves in the respective ends of the shelves and projecting therefrom a suitable distance are secured therein by suitable pins I3, inserted in the openings I2, These T- irons also engage suitable T-grooves in the end members of the respective sections,\vhich grooves are located at a proper distance above the coupling-plates 6 to permit the door supported on said plates to turn and run under the shelf. Each shelf is .suitably molded on the rear edge 9 and has grooves in its upper and under sides near the rear to receive the back panels lll. 'lhese panels also engage suitable grooves l0" in the end sections. 'I hese back panels 10 extend partially within the adjacent section above, and thus serve to properly adjust the sections in alinement, and being inserted in grooves in both the ends of the sections and in the shelves they also serve to lock the shelves in position when the device is assembled. The shelf connections beingindependent of the coupling-plates, each section can be separated from the one below without detaching the parts composing the 'Ihus as occasion requires the respective sections may be separated without To retain the coupling-irons in place on the section below end of the slot, and a door having a hook enwhen the section above is removed, suitable screws or nails may be inserted, as at 14 in Fig. 3. By the construction shown I also provide a paneled finish at the back of the case.

So far as I am advised heretofore it has been customarj7 to locate the shelves oppositel the line of separation of the ends of the sections and support the shelves by the coupling means for the sections, providing a separate support for the door. I find it of advantage to support the door on the coupling means for the sections and to provide a separate attaching means for the shelves, as herein shown.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure b v Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of superposed sections, coupling-plates connecting the end members of the sections and projecting inward, a door supported upon the inwardly-projecting portions of the plates, a shelf, and means for separately attaching the shelf to the ends of the sections.

2. The combination of sections having end members formed with T-grooves in their inner sides, and grooves in their adjacent ends, a shelf, T-irons attached to the shelf and inserted in the T-grooves, and coupling-plates between the end members, said coupling-plates having flanges engaging the said end grooves and also projecting inward to form a support for the door.

3. The combination of sections having grooves in the adjacent ends of their end members, a coupling-plate between said members, f

and having oppositely-projecting flanges engaging the grooves, said coupling-plate also projecting inward to form a support .for the door, the said inwardly-projecting portion having a slot and a rounded portion at one gaging and traversing the slot.

4. The combination of sections having grooves in the adjacent ends of their end members, a coupling-plate having a thickened inwardly-projecting portion and oppositely-projecting flanges` and also having a slot in the thickened portion, a door supported on the coupling-plate, and a hook on .the door engaging and traversing the slot.

The combination of sections having end members formed with T-slots in their inner sides and grooves in their adjacent ends, a shelf, T-irons secured in the shelf and inserted in the T-slots, coupling-plates between the end members,and having thickened in wardly-projecting portions provided with slots and rounded at their front ends, said plates also having oppositely-projecting ribs engaging the grooves in the end members, a door supported upon the coupling-plates and hooks on the door engaging the slots.

6. As an article of manufacture, a coupling'- plate having a longitudinal slot near one edge, and oppositely-projecting vertical ribs on its respective sides, said ribs being' located remote from the slot.

7. As an article of manufacture, a couplingplate, having a thickened portion extending along one edge and a longitudinal slot in said portion, and a rounded portion at the end of the slot, said plate also havingoppositely-projecting ribs on the opposite sides of its thinner portion, said ribs being remote from the thickened portion and parallel therewith.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN I-IOULT.

Vitnesses:

LUTHER V. MoUL'roN, GEORGIANA CHACE. 

